Delivery mechanism for printing and like machines



May 29, 1951 w. A. WHITEHEAD EI'AL 2,555,281 DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING mm LIKE MACHINES Filed May 29, 1946 j 7 Sheets-Sheet l DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING AND LIKE MACHINES Filed May29, 194s May 29, 1951 w. A. WHITEH'EAD ETAL '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1951 w. A. WHITEHEAD EIAL 2,555,281

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING AND LIKE MACHINES Filed May 29, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 o if M a M, a a? J z}, v w a a 7; w 2 3 w u a I. w. 0Q 6 a. 5 .6 4 g 4% I a J M? w May 29, 1951 'w. AQVWHITEHELAD srm. v I 2,5 5, 81

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING AND LIKE MACHiNES Filed May 29, 1946 7 Shbeis-Sheet 4 y 1951 w. A. WHITEHEAD v ETAL 2,555,281

. DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING AND LIKE MACHINES A Filed May 29, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 29, 1951 W. A. WHITEHEAD ETAL DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING AND LIKE MACHINES Filed May 29, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 y 1951 w. A. WHlTEHE AD ETAL 2,555,281

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING AND LIKE vBUKH'HNES Filed May 29, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented May 29, 1951 DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING AND LIKE MACHINES William ArnoldWhitehead, "PreStonQand Sydney Walter Herbert Long, Beckenham, Eng'land Application May 29, 1946, SerialNo. 672,944 In Great Britain February 28, '1946 22 Claims.

This invention relates to delivery -mechanism for use with printing and like machines, for example newspaper printing machines, in which sheet products are "deposited in regular succession, for delivery by a conveyor, and has forits general object the provision of a novel-and improved -mechanism-for the delivery of regular, counted batches of-the products from the machine.

The more detailed "objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom,'or may be learned by practice with the invention, thesame being'realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, construction, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown-and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to hereinand constitutinga part hereof, illustrates two embodiments of the invention, and, together with the description, serve 'to'explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of 'a batching mechanism in accordance with the invention in association with product-depositing means of the rotary-fly type;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the conveyors and their mountings illustrated in Figure l 1;

Figure 3 is adiagrammatic detail view showing the parts of the batching mechanism illustrated in Figure 1, in the positions they occupy immediately preceding the segregation of a batch;

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views similar to Figure 3, but "showing further stages in the segregation and deposition of a batch;

Figure '7 is a diagrammatic elevational view illustrating a general arrangement of the delivery mechanism in accordance with the invention, in association with a bundling device of the kind already referred to;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the depositing means and part of the delivery conveyor, similar to the corresponding part of Figure 7, but illustrating a modified form of gearing between the depositing means and delivery Figure 9 is a'sectional plan view of a mechani- "cal synchronising device for gearing the product depositing means to the delivery means and to 'a bundling device used -in association therewith "to receive the -batches therefrom;

'ation due to variation-in the number of products in successive batches, this 'd-iflicul-ty arising pri- -marily from the fact that the -products are dison r aconveyor.

at its periphery, --from -which-they are stripped by fixed ormovable stops=so-as to be deposited The invention may also be used in association with -a bundling device comprising a plural-ityo'f receivers which'are successively presented to receive the products from a-delivery conveyor and remove them in separate bundles.

With newspaper deliver-y mechanism hitherto inuse, di-fficulty has been experienced in opercharged from the conveyor in 1a continuous 'stream in regular and relatively close :over-lapping relationship, and are segregated into bundles by 'separa't'or .elements which are interbe appreciated thatiit-is difiicult toensure accurate 'selectioncof the copiesflt0 'be separated.

= With a view to avoiding this difficulty, the

present invention provides :a-idelivery mechanism for use with pri-ntingiand like machines in which sheet products arefideposited -in regular succesi-sion, for :delivery by a (conveyor, comprising means operative at the stage at which the :prodnets are deposited, for producing igreater spacing on "the conveyor ofisu'ccessive series of :products than of individual products in a series.

Such increased spacing of successive :series of products-on the conveyormay be eiie'ct'ed by temporarily interrup'ting their deposition on the conveyor after deposition' thereon of a batch of predetermined number and, in further accordance "with the invention, the interrupted means may be combined with means for accelerating the ='remova1--of said batch from the depositing position.

According still further to the invention, the

deli-very mechanism comprises means operable "upon deposition on said conveyor *of -a batch of products of-predetermined number, 7 for "remov- "66' ing 'said batch 'from the depositing position on the conveyor at a speed greater than that of said conveyor, and means for preventing subsequent products from being deposited on said conveyor until the removal of said batch, has been completed.

In carrying the invention into effect, the products may be periodicallyremoved from the conveyor on which they are deposited, by means of a second conveyor which is driven at a speed greater than that of the first conveyor. Conveniently, said second conveyor is mounted so that it can occupy positions in or out of the path of the products after deposition, and is controlled by means operating in timed relation with the depositing means so as to become operative for the removal of the products upon the deposition of a predetermined number thereof.

The means for interrupting the deposition of the products after deposition of a predetermined number thereof may comprise one or more retaining elements carried by a rotary member driven in timed relation with the depositing means, said member and the element or elements thereon being arranged so that in the course of rotation of the member, the element or elements move through a zone in which the products are deposited thereon and are supported thereby. Such retaining element or elements may be pivotally mounted on the rotary carrying member and be arranged to rock, during rotation of said member, so that the entry to and departure from the product-retaining zone of the or each element is accelerated relative to the rotary member, for the purpose, respectively, of assisting accurate selection at high speeds of the proper product to be retained, and avoiding interferencewith the completed batch of products when it is being rapidly removed. The rocking movement is also controlled in the intervening period to maintain the retaining element or elements in a desired retaining attitude relative to the conveyor in order to avoid interference with the conveyor and with the products in the preceding batch.

If the delivery mechanism is used in association with a bundling device of the kind already referred to, a drive must be provided for operating the bundling device in constant phase relationship with the delivery mechanism so that its receivers maymaintain a set registry with the delivery of the batches of products segregated by the delivery mechanism; moreover, in order to permit of disposal of batches left on the conveyor when the depositing means stop, the bundling device must be able to operate independently of the depositing means; and in this connection according to a further feature of the invention, means are provided for automatically bringing the bundling device into predetermined phase relation with the depositing means when normal running commences.

It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referringnow to the examples of construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and considering first the batching mechanism illustrated in Figures 1 to 8, it will be seen that depositing means is provided by a rotary fly H] of the well known type having a plurality of pockets formed by vanes ll secured to'and extending from the periphery of one or more rotatable drums 12. Preferably those portions of the vanes H which co-operate with the drum to form the pockets are concentric with respect to the axis of the drum. Stationary or movable stops (not shown) of any known or desired kind are provided beneath the fly to strip the products from the fly pockets and cause them to drop succesively and in overlapping relationship on to a conveyor moving relatively slowly as compared with the fly. This conveyor consists of a plurality of laterally spaced endless conveyor bands I3, passing at the entry end of the conveyor around drums 14 mounted on a shaft l5 rotatable about a fixed axis, and at the discharge end about drums it which are mounted by arms I! on a rockable shaft I8 so as to be movable in a vertical plane, and is of such length as adequately to accommodate on its upper run a batch of products of predetermined number, for example, a quire of twenty-seven.

Also arranged beneath the fly IE! and extending beyond the discharge end of the aforesaid conveyor [3 is a second conveyor similarly comprising a plurality of laterally spaced conveyor bands l9 which are interposed, transversely of the mechanism, between the bands of the conveyor I3. The bands 19 at the entry of the conveyor, pass around drums 20 carried by arms 2| on a rockable shaft 22 so as to be capable of movement in a vertical plane, whilst at the dise charge end they are mounted on drums 23 carried by a shaft 24, which is rotatable about a fixed axis and also carries drums 25 around which pass bands constituting the first section of the main conveyor 26 (see Figure 7) leading to the ultimate discharge point. The shafts i5 and 24 are interconnected by chain and sprocket gearing 21 so that the speed of the conveyor I9 is greater than that of the conveyor I3. The two conveyors are, furthermore, driven in timed relation with the rotary fly It by means described hereinafter.

The object of the vertical movement of the drums I6 and 29 is to permit raising and lowering of the two conveyors l3 and I9 to bring either of them, as desired, into and out of a position for engagement with the deposited products, and to assist in achieving this object the arms l1, 2| have extensions 28, 29 respectively, beyond their axes of rotation, these extensions carrying further drums 3i], 3! which co-operate respectively with the conveyor bands [9, I 3. The rock shafts I8, 22 are interconnected by a link 32 secured to arms 33 on the shafts so as to move in unison, and the setting is such that when (as shown in Figure 1) the drum 20 and 30 are lowered, to bring the faster conveyor l9 out of the operative position, the drums l6 and 3f are moved to raise the slower conveyor l3 into a product-receiving position. Conversely, (as shown in Figure 4) when the drums 2B, 30 are moved to raise the conveyor IS, the drums l6, 3! are lowered.

The two sets of arms are operated in timed relationship with the rotary fly ID by means of a rotary cam 35, acting through a spring-tensioned follower arm 35 pivoted at 31 and connected by a link 38 to an arm 39 secured to the rock shaft [8. In the case illustrated in Figure 1, the cam 35 is geared (the gearing not being shown) to rotate one revolution during the deposition by the fly of two batches (e. g. quires) of products, and is therefore designed to provide two complete cycles of the conveyor raising and lowerin movement for each revolution. During each cycle, the conveyor [3 is maintained in the raised or operative position for a period sufficient to allow the deposition thereon or one oomplete ret ansmnfediat'el-y threafte the conveyor P3 is dii lowered and the coriveyor 1 9 uuickly'raised to enable the latter to effect the removal of the batch at an increasedspeed. Inthe position shown in Figure 1, "the latter part of the eyes is about *to take'place. I

When a batch ofproductsofthe requirednumbrha's been depbsited--bythe H! on the-slower conveyor 3 and has been raised from-"said conveyo'r by the raster conveyor l9 for'removal to the conveyor -26) it is essential that products subs'equently delivered by the fly be prevented rr 'm dropping on to "the faster conveyor 19 uritilthe latter conveyor, fha'vi ng rernoved the batch tof'a desired distance from thefiy, which may approxi mate to the "distance occupied "by a complete batch, resumes its lowermost position "and the slower conveyor +3, having then been raised, is position to receive further products from "the fly 10. For this urp se retain ng member's 4 areprovided which 'arefo'rmed withsto'p portions 4! {for stripping the subsequent products "successively from the fly, and also with fingers 42 which, on completion of "a batch, are movable from an'inoperative positionto a product retaining position immediately beneath the fly, there to receive th products-stripped "from the fly 'by said-stop portions 4 l These fingers arepivotally mounted at 43 on a'rotary member 44 "mounted on thesame shaft as, and thus rotating with, the cam '35, the timing of the rotation being such th'at'asfthe last product in "a batch is'depo'sit'e'd by the fly on to the 'slowerconveyor 13,-fa retainin' "member 40 reaches aposition in which, by rocking it about its pivot "43, the anger portion 42 thereof may be brought to a product-retaining position beneath the fly, thestops 41 at the same time becoming operative to strip "the renewing products, which fall'up'on the fingers 42. This rocking movement is effected by the engagement of a follower roller 45, carried the retaining members 40, with a stationary cam plate 46, the members '40 being blessed by "springs 41 to "maintaih'constant engagement of the ronower roller 45 with the cam plate,

"Since the member *carr ing the retainin members 40 rotates, like the cam 35, orierevomtion during the deposition byftlie 'fly of two batches of products, tWo retaining "inmber'sml, or sets thereof, are'prov'id'ed at diametrically oppos ition oh the rotar rnember "4'4.

The sequence of "movements of each retaining member '40 from a osition immediately preceding 'it s'entry to the product-retaining "ione-toits position of departure therefrom, is illustratedin Figures 1, 3, '4, andfi. As can be seen therefrom,'the cam'46 is so designedthat as a'retaining member 22 approaches a position adjacent the lowerp'art of the fly II], the fingers 42 are maintained until the last moment abovethe fly po'clgets (see FigureB) so as not to intercept the products being delivered by'thefly,'whichatthis period are being stripped from the fly by the normal stripping means (not shown). Irnmediately=the deposition of'a'batch of products onthe slowerconveyor l3has been completed the membr Ml'is'rocked by arise of the cam 46 to accelerate the downward'movement of the fingers '42 toa position of support for following products (see Figure 1), which are now stripped from the fly-bythe'stopsfl. Thism'ovinent of the fingers 4-2 is slightly in advance of the raising of the faster conveyor 19 to lift the batch "from the slowr'conveyor I 3.

fiotwithstanding 'theb'ontinue'd rotation of the amine member 44, the s ngers =40 are kept clear (Sf th'e conveyor -13 and-the rearmost product of the previous batch, and -"are also "constrained to maintain a convenient product-retaining emt'ude, 'by rookingrearwa-rdly relative to the-member '44; under the influence of the cam 46 (see Figures 4 and "5). As the movement progresses, the two -conveyors t3, 1-9 are gradually r'esuming their original positions i. e. the faster conveyor I 9 is being 'lowered'and the slower conveyor 4-3 raised "as the completed b'atch'moves progressively furthrfrom the fiy,-and the plane of intersecnon of said conveyors moves "in the same 'direction. Th relative speeds o'f'the various'elem'ents are so'slecte'd'that the *free ends of the an ers 42 flag to some'extent 'behindthis advancing plane of intersection, although, during the concluding phase of the'conveyor adjustment, they-arestiII advancing at a speed greater than that of the slower conveyor 13 and the products 'carried'by said'fing'ersare thus gradually transferred to said slower conveyor. "When the *fasterconveyor I- 9 has move'd'the preceding batch of products'out of the way of the product's "supported by the fingers 4-2, the'retainingmember 40 is'const'rained by ari'se'on the 'cam' ifi to 'rockforwardly (see Figure 6) sothat the fingers '42'a're move'drapidly fromthe product-retaining zone, the fiy thereafter'delivering products in succession to said conveyor 13 in the -usua1 manner until-another batch is completed, whereupon th second retairiing "member comes into operation to interrupt the deposition 'on the conveyor "I3 of further products. V

"From the foregoing it 'will 'be'clear that as a completedbatch'bf productswill berapidly moved from a position adjacent thefiy "f0, a'substantial spacing is provided between successive batches without many wayaifecting the speed'continuity o'foperation of the'fly. Thisp'recludes products in one batch becoming mixedwith anotherbat'ch and thus ensures that all batches contain the desired number of products.

compared with a delivery system in which the pro'ducts are segregated into batches by interpo'si'ng separator element's betweensuccessive product's'being delivere'd'bya conveyor in'clo'sely overlapping relationship, accuracy of'se'lection is morereadily'obtainable'by reason of the greater interval b'etweentheproducts on the'fly. Another advantage which derives from this arrangement is that, Where the products are discharged into abundling deviceo'ffth'e kindalready referred to, the conveyor wires leading from 'the fiy to the bundling'deviceneed 'not move with such exact and'regula'rsp'eed'as hasliitherto been essential. A still further advantage is that the lastone or two'products mayeasil'ybe removed froma batch and replaced by substitutes without any error oecurring in the number ofproducts inthe batch.

When the'delivery mechanism described in the foregoing is used in association'with a'bundling deviceof tl'l'e kind referre'd to, it is important that the'bundlershould, Within reasonably close limits, be inproper phase relationship with the depositing'ineans and delivery mechanism to ensure that thebatches of products'a're accurately placed in the receivers, and to this end thebundle 5!) (see Figure 7), when in normal operation, is driven through'chain'g'aring '80, spur gearing BI, and chaingearingu from the delivery conveyor26, whichin turn'i's coupled'to the rotary'fly through a gear ng; 83 and chain gearing 84, 52 and sprocket-'53. lnthec'a'seillustrated in Fi ure 1,

the sprocket 53 is on a shaft 5| which carries the fly and from which a shaft 12 (which carries the rotary member 44 and cam 35) is driven by separate gearing (not shown). In Figure 8, the sprocket 53' is coaxial with, but rotatable independently of the cam shaft 12, and is driven by spur gears 85, 66, of which the latter is driven by a spur gear 81 on the fly shaft 5|, and also drives a spur gear 88 on the cam shaft 12 through an intermediate 89. In this arrangement, by making the gear 86 of the composite type, embodying two or three gear wheels having slightly differing numbers of teeth, and by making the wheel 81 slidable on its shaft 5|, provision may be made for varying the transmission ratio both to the cam shaft 12 and bundles 50 to suit different numbers of products in a batch. In either Figure 7 or Figure 8, the rate of operation of the bundle 56 and conveyor 26 will be directly related to that of the fly.

At the same time, provision must be made for discharging any batches left on the delivery conveyor when the press stops, and means; for example, an independent electric motor on the bundler, and a suitable clutch connection between the depositing means and the conveyor 26 are therefore provided for enabling the bundler 56 and discharge conveyor 26 to be driven independently of the fly. To allow independent operation of the bundler and conveyor, and yet provide that they shall be brought automatically into proper phase relationship with the fly on restarting the latter, a synchronising device is employed, alternative forms of which are illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 and Figure 11.

In the mechanism illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 the sprocket 53 of the chain gearing 52 is mounted free on the fly shaft 5| and receives its drive therefrom through a free-wheel or ratchet clutch, of which the driving member is a ring 54 formed with ratchet-type dogs 55 engaging corresponding dogs on the end face of a double pinion 55 fixed on the sprocket 53. The ring 54 is mounted so as to be capable of axial movement,

' against the action of springs 51, in the recessed end of an eight-toothed ratchet wheel 58, with which it has a driving connection through splines 59, the ratchet wheel 58 having an axial extension 60 by which it is mounted fast on the fly shaft 5|. It will be apparent that, by this arrangement, whilst the drive of the fly shaft may be transmitted to the bundler, the latter may overrun the fly shaft so that it may be driven independently of and at a higher speed than said shaft, for example by the means provided for driving the bundler and conveyor when the machine has stopped. After being so driven, the bundler may be out of phase with the fly, and to enable this to be corrected n re-starting an alternative drive from the fly shaft to the sprocket 53 is provided by way of a speed-increasing gear'train comprising a phase-adjusting gear 6| free on the extension 66 of the ratchet wheel 58; gears 62, 63 on a countershaft 64; and pinion 65 of the double pinion 56 associated with the sprocket 53. This alternative drive is transmitted from the ratchet wheel 58 to the phase-adjusting gear 6| by means of a spring-pressed pawl 66, pivoted on the gear 6|, the engagement of the said pawl with the ratchet wheel 58 being controlled by a timing ele-- ment formed by a sleeve 61. free on the hub of the phase-adjusting gear 6|. Said timing element is provided with a projection 68 which is adapted to co-operate with a lateral extension 69 of the pawl 66 to raise itout of engagement with 8 the ratchet wheel 58, a provided with a chain sprocket 10 which is continuously driven from a sprocket H on the shaft 12.

As has already been stated, the shaft 12 is driven (by means not shown) at the rate of one revolution for two batches of products deposited by the fly Ill. The speed ratio of the sprockets 1|, 10 in the example illustrated is 2:1, so that the sprocket 10 makes one revolution per batch. Similarly the speed ratio of the gear train from the pinion 65 to the phase-adjusting gear 6| is such that the latter is rotated at the rate of one revolution per batch when the drive from the fly shaft 5| to the bundler is being transmitted normally through the clutch 54, under which condition the pinion 65 rotates at the same speed as the fly shaft 5|, and of course, drives the phaseadjusting gear 6| through the countershaft gears 63, 62. It will be apparent that, so long as the projection 68 on the timing element 61 is in register with the part 69 of the pawl 66 on the phase adjusting gear 6|, the drive to the bundler Will be transmitted normally: if, however, the part 69 moves out of register with the projection (see Figure 10), the pawl is allowed to engage the ratchet wheel 58 and, since the latter is rotating with the fiy shaft 5|, a drive is transmitted through the pawl 66 to the phase-adjusting gear BI and thence to the gears 62, 63, 65. Since the gear train in this direction provides a speedincreasing ratio, the pinion 65 and sprocket 53, and therefore the bundler are driven at an increased speed relative to the fly, the ratchet clutch 54 permitting overrunning. Under these conditions, the phase-adjusting gear 6| is rotating faster than the timing element 61, so that after a time the pawl 66 again registers with the projection 68, whereupon the alternative drive is disconnected and the normal drive resumed.

Conveniently, as applied to a newspaper printing press, the number of teeth in the gears 65, 63, 62, 6| are, respectively twenty-seven, fiftyfour, sixteen and fifty-two, a ratio which corresponds to a quire of twenty-six copies if the rotary fly deposits four copies per revolution. As, however, it frequently happens that the same press is required to deliver quires of twenty-seven copies, provision is made for varying the gear ratio. For this purpose, the second part 15 of the double pinion 56 has twenty-six teeth, and a removable spacing collar 16 is provided on the countershaft 64, upon removal of which the gears 62, 63 may be adjusted along the countershaft to mesh the gear 63 with the pinion 15 instead of the pinion 65.

It will be appreciated that when the number of copies in a quire is changed, it is necessary to modify the speed of the shaft 64 relative to that of the fly shaft 5|. The change of ratio of the gears 65, 63, 62, 6| enables the speed of the phase-adjusting gear 6| to be kept equal to that of the timing element 6'! at one revolution per two quires.

In the alternative synchronising device illustrated in Figure 11, lack of synchronism between the bundler and the depositing means is caused to unbalance a Wheatstone bridge circuit, and the resultant current flowing inthe diagonal arm of the bridge is utilised to close the circuit of a motor driving the bundler, the motor being again stopped when synchronism is achieved and there is no current flow inthe diagonal of the bridge. In Figure 11, is the supply to a Wheatstone bridge having fixed red the element is further.

sistance arms 9t, 92, variable. resistance arms 93, 9.4,, and diagonal: arm 95. sistance arms. 93, 94 are composed each of an identical set of independent resistance of graded value, each resistance being connected to a separate, contact of a corresponding circular switch 96, 91. On of these switches, say 96 is eared to the depositing means, forexample, to the. cam shaft 12, and the other 91;, to the bundler through sprockets m6; so that when the speeds of the bundler and cam shaft are correctly related the two switches rotate at equal speed. The switches 96,, 9'!- are also set so that when the bundler and cam shaft are in proper phase relation the resistances 93, 94 brought into the Wheatstonebridge. circuit; by the switches 96, 91 at any instant are ofequal value, and accordingly that there isno current flow in the diagonal arm 95. It will be apparent that, in these circumstances, if the bundler and cam shaft 12 are out 0t phase, the switches 96, 91, will also be out-of phase and that at any instant resistances 93, 94; ofdifierent value will be brought into circuit. The, current fiowthus produced in the diagonal arm 95 is utilised to energise a relay 98 which closes a switch 99 in the supply circuit of a. motor I00, which is adapted to drive the bundler through a worm gear llll, one-way ratchet clutch I92, and shaft I93, the object of. the ratchet clutch Hi1; being to allow the bundler. to be driven in normal operation without driving the motor I00. The synchronising system is not intended to operate during normal, use. of the bundler, but only after the bundler has been. operated independently of the depositingmeans, and. in order to. prevent operation of the. synchronising device except at that time, the supply 90, to. the bridge circuit includes contacts 1.04 which are controlled by a contact [0,5 associated. with themain starting gear of the machine and which is arranged to complete. the bridge. supply circuit 90 only when, the machine has been stopped. This electrical synchronizing system diifers from the mechanical system, hereinbefore described in, that, while the latter, due to. the, power supply being cut off whenv the press. is stationary, operates immediately beiore commencement of a new run, the electrical system. bficomesoperative immediately the press ha been shut down.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters atien th Un ted. State s:

1 A delivery mechanism f l? use with printing and ke machin s. h ndl n heet. o uc s. cluding in, ccrnbinationconveyor delivery means, ean o d pos tin she P du ts n regular succession, for delivery by the conveyor delivery means, and rotatably driven means for engaging under and supporting portions of the products above said conveyor means at spaced intervals of time, for producing greater spacing on the conveyor delivery means of successive series of products than of individual products in a series.

2. A delivery mechanism for use with printing and like machines handling sheet products, including in combination conveyor delivery means, means for depositing sheet products in regular succession, for delivery by the conveyor delivery means, and rotatably driven means for engaging under and supportingportions of the products above said conveyor meansat spaced intervals of time, for producing complete separation along the conveyor delivery means of successive series of products whilst retaining an overlapping re.-. lationshipbetween individual products in a series.

The variable re--.

,a product-engaging position,

3. A delivery mechanismfor use with printing and like. machines handling sheet products, including in combination conveyor delivery means, means for depositing sheet products in regular succession, for delivery by the conveyor delivery means, means operative upon deposition on said conveyor delivery means of a batch of products of predetermined number, for accelerating the removal of said batch from the depositing position, and rotatably driven means for engaging under and supporting portions of the products above said conveyor means acting simultaneously with said accelerating means to interrupt temporarily the deposition of subsequent products on said conveyor delivery means.

4'. A delivery mechanism for use with printing and like machines handling sheet products, including in combination conveyor delivery means, means; for depositing sheet products in regular succession, for delivery by the conveyor delivery means, and. rotatably driven means for engaging underandsupporting portions of the products abovesaid conveyor means operable upon deposition on said conveyor delivery means of. a batch of productsof predetermined number, for interruptingtemporarily the deposition of subsequent. products on said conveyor means.

5; A delivery mechanism for usewith printing and like machines handling sheet products, including in combination conveyor delivery means, means for depositing sheet products in regular succession for delivery by the conveyor delivery means, means, operable upon deposition on said conveyor delivery means of abatch of products of; predetermined; number, for removing said batch from. its position of deposition on the conveyor delivery means at a speed greater thanthat; of said conveyor means, and-rotatably driven means. for engaging under and supporting portions or the products above said conveyor means for; preventing subsequent products from being completely deposited on said conveyor deliverymeans untilthe removal of said batch has been mpleted.-

6'. A; delivery mechanism for use with printing and: like machines handling sheet products, including in combination "means for depositing sheet products in regular succession, a first conveyor on which the products are deposited, a second conveyor driven at a speed greater than and arranged in longitudinally overlapping relation with said first conveyor, mounting means for said conveyors including pivoted arms enabling each conveyor to be adjusted to and from interconnecting means between said arms whereby the conveyors are adjustable simultaneously but in opposite senses, and means, operating in timed relationship with the depositing means, for actuating ,said' arms to effect the conveyor adjustment.

7. A delivery mechanism for use with printing and like machines handling sheet products, including in combination means for depositing sheet products in regular succession, a first conveyor on which the products are deposited, a second conveyor arranged in longitudinally overlapping relationship with respect to said first conveyor and driven at a speed greater than that of said first conveyor, means for adjusting said second conveyor to periodically remove products from said first conveyor, and means, operative. when said second conveyor is adjusted for such removal, for interrupting temporarily the deposition of further products on said first conveyor.

8. A delivery mechanism for use with printing and like machines handling sheet products, including in combination conveyor delivery means, means for depositing sheet products in regular succession, for delivery by the conveyor delivery means, and means, operable upon deposition on said conveyor delivery means of a batch of products of predetermined number, for interrupting temporarily the deposition of subsequent products on said conveyor means, said interrupting means comprising a rotary member driven in timed relation with the depositing means and at least one product-retaining element carried by said member, and the member being arranged so that in the course of its rotation said retaining element moves through a zone in which products are deposited and supported thereon.

9. A delivery mechanism for use with printing and like machines handling sheet products, including in combination conveyor delivery means, means for depositing sheet products in regular succession, for delivery by the conveyor delivery means, and means, operable upon deposition on said conveyor delivery means of a batch of products of predetermined number, for interrupting temporarily the deposition of subsequent products on said conveyor means, said interrupting means comprising a rotary member driven in timed relation with the depositing means and at least one product-retaining element pivotally mounted thereon, the member being arranged so that in the course of its rotation said retaining element moves through a Zone in which products are deposited and supported thereon; and means for rocking said retaining element about its pivot so that its entry to and departure from the product-retaining zone is accelerated relative to the rotary member, and its position relative to the rotary member is modified to maintain a desired, retaining attitude in passing through said zone.

10. A delivery mechanism for use with printing and like machines handling sheet products, including in combination conveyor delivery means, means for depositing sheet products in regular succession, for delivery by the conveyor delivery means, and means, operable upon deposition on said conveyor delivery means of a batch of products of predeterminednumber, for interrupting temporarily the deposition of subsequent products on said conveyor means, said interrupting means comprising a rotary member driven in timed relation with the depositing means and at least one product-retaining element pivoted on and extending outwardly from said member, the member being arranged so that in the course of its rotation said retaining element moves through a zone in which products are deposited and supported thereon; and means for rocking said retaining element to vary its angular position relative to the member at different stages in' the product-retaining zone, said rocking means being timed so that, by reason of the rocking movement, entry of the retaining element to and its departure from the product-retaining zone is accelerated relative to the rotary member.

11. A delivery mechanism for use with printing and like machines handling sheet products, including in combination conveyor delivery means, depositing means of the rotary fly type having a rotatable element with vanes to receive sheet products and deposit them in regular succession for delivery by the conveyor delivery means, a rotary member parallel and driven in timed re- 12 lation with the rotatable element, and at least one product-retaining element carried thereby, said member being arranged so that in the course of its rotation any retaining element thereon moves through a zone in which products from the vanes are deposited and supported thereon.

12. A delivery mechanism for use with printing and like machines handling sheet products, including in combination conveyor delivery means, depositing means of the rotary fly type having a rotatable element with vanes to receive sheet products and deposit them in regular succession for delivery by the conveyor delivery means; a rotary member parallel and driven in timed relation with the rotatable element; and at least one product-retaining element pivoted on and extending outwardly from said member, the member being arranged so that in the course of its rotation said retaining element moves through a zone in which products are deposited thereon from said vanes and supported thereon; and means for rocking said retaining element to vary its angular position relative to the member at different stages in the product-retaining zone, said rocking means being timed so that, by rea-- son of the rocking movement, entry of the retaining element to and its departure from the product-retaining zone is accelerated relative to the rotary member.

13. A delivery mechanism as claimed in claim 12, having the further feature that the retaining element includes a stop portion acting to strip a product from the vanes of the rotatable element upon entry into the product-retaining zone.

14. A delivery mechanism for use with printing and like machines handling sheet products, including in combination depositing means of the rotary fiy type having a rotatable element with vanes to receive sheet products and deposit them in regular succession; a rotary member.

parallel and driven in timed relation with the rotatable element and having at least one product-retaining element thereon, said member being arranged so that in the course of its rotation said retaining element moves through a zone in which products are deposited thereon from said vanes and supported thereon whereby normal deposition of products is interrupted; a first conveyor positioned to receive products deposited by the rotatable element; a second conveyor driven at a speed greater than that of said first conveyor; means for adjusting said second conveyor to periodically remove products from said first conveyor; and means for timing such adjustment to take place during the period of interruption by said retaining element of normal deposition.

15. A delivery mechanism for use with printing and like machines handling sheet products and adapted to deliver to a bundling device having a plurality of receivers which are successively presented to receive the products and remove them in separate bundles, including in combination conveyor'delivery means; means for depositing sheet products in regular succession, for delivery by the conveyor delivery means; means, operative at the stage at which said products are deposited, for producing greater spacing on the conveyor delivery means of successive series of products than of individual products in a series; means for driving a bundling device in constant phase relationship with the delivery mechanism so that the receivers of said device may maintain a set registry with the delivery of batches segreate d pac m ns me ns fo nabling a; bundling device to operate, independently ofthe depositing and spacing means so that the qn or e s m y be em tied. n. he posi n m ans have stopped; nd means o automatically bringing a bundling device into predetermined phase relation withthe depositing means after independent operation.

16. A delivery mechanism for use. with printing and like machines handling sheet products and adapted to deliver to a bundling device having a plurality of receivers which are successively presented to receive the products and, remove them in separate bundles, including in, oombinae tion conveyor delivery, means; meansfor depositing sheet products in regular succession, for delivery. by. the conveyor delivery means; means, operative at the stage at which said products are deposited, for producing greater spacing on the conveyor delivery means of successive series of products than of. individual products in a series; means for driving a. bundling device from the depositing means including a driving member and a driven member, a first driving connection adapted to drive the driven member in constant phase relationship with the driving member, a second driving connection adapted to drive said driven member at a changed speed to adjust its phase relationship with the driving member, means for rendering each of said connections ineffective whenever the other is operating, and means for rendering said second connection effective only when the phase relationship of said members is disturbed.

17. A delivery mechanism as claimed in claim 16, having the further features that the means for driving a bundling device from the depositing means includes a first driving connection formed by a one-way clutch adapted to drive the driven member in constant phase relationship with the driving member, and a second driving connection adapted, when in operation, to drive said driven member at an increased speed to cause it to overrun the one-way clutch and thus adjust the phase relationship of said members.

18. A delivery mechanism as claimed in claim 16, having the further feature that the means for driving a bundling device from the depositing means includes a second driving connection having a rotatable phase-adjusting element, a reversible transmission for driving said element from the driven member at a speed different from, but bearing a definite relation to that of said driven member, a clutch connection enabling said element to be driven by the driving member, and a timing element having means to render said clutch effective only when the phaseadjusting and timing elements are out of phase; said timing element being driven at a speed bearing a definite relationship to that of the driving member and normally equal to that of the phaseadjusting element so that if the phase-adjusting and timing elements, and therefore the driving and driven members, are out of a predetermined phase relationship, the phase-adjusting element is connected to the driving member to drive the driven member through the said reversible transmission with a change of speed.

19. A delivery mechanism for use with printing and like machines handling sheet products and adapted to deliver to a bundling device having a plurality of receivers which are successively presented to receive the products and remove them in separate bundles, including in combination conveyor delivery means; depositing means of; the rotary fly type having a, rotatable. element. With vanes to receive sheet productsand deposit them in regular succession for delivery by the conveyor delivery means; means, operative at the stage. at which. said products are deposited, for producing greater spacing on the conveyor delivery means of successive. series of products than of individual products in a series, means for drive ing a bundling device from the depositing means including a driving member non-rotatably mounted on. the shaft of said rotary carrier, and a. driven member free on said shaft having an associated gear or transmission of the drive to a. bundler; a first driving connection formed by a. one=way clutch adapted to drive the driven member in constant phase relationship with the drivingmember; a second driving connection including a. rotatable phase-adjusting element, a reversible transmission for driving said element from. the driven member at a speed lower than, but bearing a definite relation to that of said driven member, a clutch connection enabling said element to be driven by the driving member, and a timing element having means to render said clutch effective only when the phase-adjusting and timing elements are out of phase; said timing element being driven at a speed bearing a definite relationship to that of the driving member and normally equal to that of the phase-adjusting element so that if the phase-adjusting and timing elements, and therefore the driving and driven members, are out of a predetermined phase relationship, the phase-adjusting element is connected to the driving member to drive the driven member through the said reversible transmission with an increased speed, the one-way clutch of the first driving connection permitting overunning.

20. A delivery mechanism for use with printing and like machines handling sheet products, including in combination means for depositing sheet products in regular succession, a first conveyor on which the products are deposited at a particular position longitudinally of the conveyor for forwarding along said conveyor, a second conveyor driven at a speed greater than and arranged in longitudinally overlapping relation with said first conveyor adapted to remove products from said first conveyor at substantially said position where said products are deposited and forwardly thereof, mounting means for said sec ond conveyor enabling it to be adjusted to and from a position in which it can remove from the first conveyor any products thereon at substantially said position where said products are deposited and forwardly thereof, and means operating in timed relationship with the depositing means for actuating said mounting means to adjust said second conveyor into a position for removal of products from said first conveyor.

21. A delivery mechanism for use with printing and like machines handling sheet products, including in combination means for depositing sheet products in regular succession, a first conveyor on which the products are deposited at a particular position longitudinally of the conveyor for forwarding along said conveyor, a second conveyor driven at a speed greater than and arranged in longitudinally overlapping relation with said first conveyor adapted to remove products from said first conveyor at substantially said position where said products are deposited and forwardly thereof, mounting means for said conveyor enabling each conveyor to be adjusted to and from a product-engaging position to engage products at substantially said position where said products are deposited and forwardly thereof, and means operating in timed relationship with the depositing means for actuating said mounting means to adjust the conveyors alternately and simultaneously into and out of said productengaging position.

22. A delivery mechanism for use with printing and like machines handling sheet products, including in combination means for depositing sheet products in regular succession, a first conveyor on which the products are deposited at a particular position longitudinally of the conveyor for forwarding along said conveyor, a second conveyor driven at a speed greater than and arranged in longitudinally overlapping relation with said first conveyor adapted to remove products from said first conveyor at substantially said position where said products are deposited and forwardly thereof, mounting means for said conveyors including pivoted arms enabling each conveyor to be adjusted to and from a product-engaging position to engage products at substantially said position where said products are deposited and forwardly thereof, and means operating in timed relationship with the depositing means for actuating said arms to adjust the conveyors alternately and simultaneously into and out of said product-engaging position. WILLIAM ARNOLD WHITEHEAD. SYDNEY WALTER HERBERT LONG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,266,738 Wood May 21, 1918 2,008,236 Winkler July 16, 1935 2,184,905 Brintnall Dec. 26, 1939 2,268,304 Rapley Dec. 30, 1941 2,358,283 Walter Sept. 12, 1944 

